Mail-bag catching and delivering apparatus.



H. KBRSHAW MAIL BAG CAICHING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS.

' INVENTOI? Kersham- WI TNESSES A H. KBRSHAW. MAIL BAG GATGHING ANDDELIVERING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION I{L ED FEB.5,1913.

Patented Apr. 15, 19 7? 3 SHEETSSELE! iva WW/TNESSES H. KERSHAW. MAILBAG CATCHING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5, 1913. 1 58,759. Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 W/ZWESSES. [NYE "TOR K H, K E r- 5 h a LU. flh Br v Libum/rm HENRY KEBSHAW, OE KEARNEY, NEW JERSEY.

MAIL-BAG OATCKING AND DELIVERING APPARATUS.

Specification 0! Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, .1 913.

Application filed February 5, 1818. Serial No. 746,381.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY KERSHAW, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at Kearney, in the county of Hudson and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Mail-BaCatchin and Delivering Apparatus, 0 which he following is aspecilicution.

My invention relates to mail bag catching and delivery apparatus.

An important object of my invention is to provide apparatus of the abovementioned character, which is simple in construction, will both catchand deliver the mail bag or bags with the least injury to the same, andwhich is easy to o erate.

A further object o the invention is to provide novel means for securelyand detachably holding the mail ba or bags upon the delivery means,whereby t e bag or bags cannot he accidentally disconnected therefrom,and at the same time allowin them to be quickly and easily transferre tothe catching means when such catching means is brought into the properosition.

A further object of tie invention is to improve the construction of mailbag catching apparatuses in general with a view of increasing theirefficiency and durability.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be a parent duringthe course of the following escription.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throu bout thesame, Figure 1 is a side view 0 two complete apparatuses, one carried bya car and the other arranged at a station. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sideview, taken at a right angle to the showing in Fig. 1, of a swinging armand associated elements included in the delivery means. liig. 3 is aplan view of the same, the arm being disposed in its inner position. Fi4 is a side view of the bag or he. s detacha le connecting means, thesame being shown in its open position to release the bag from the arm ofthe delivery means. Fig. It is a plan view of the two apparatuses,showin the parts thereof arranged so that each wi deliver and catch amail ba to and from the other. Fi 0 is a detai section taken on line 6-0of ig. 2. Fi 7 is an enlar ed detail view of the connecting joint inclued in the catching means, and, Fig. 8 is a side view of the supplementalplate and associated elements.

I have shown two apparatuses, one carried by a car 8 and the otherarranged at a station 9. As these apparatuses are alike, except in themanner in which the same are connected with their supports, a detail doscription of one apparatus \Vlll sullice for both, a differentdescription, however, being;

'ven of the manner in which each apparatus is connected with its suport.

In the preferred embodiment of my in vention, each apparatus comprisesdelivery means, including relatively stationary horizontal arallel rods10. The. rods 10 included in the ap aratus carried by the ear 8 are dis086d 9. 'acent the car door opening an are rigi ly connected at theirends with brackets 11, which are in turn rigidly connected with the car.The rods 10 included in-the station apparatus, are disposed above therods 10 included in the car apparatus, and are connected at their endswith uprights or red 10 carries at its ends shock absorbers 13. whichare preferably formed of rubber.

The delivery means in each apparatus, comprises a carria e 14, adaptedto slide or move longitudinalg' of the horizontal guide rods 10 suchcarriage being provided with gertured cars 15, to receive t 1e guiderods.

onnected with each carriage 14, by means of screws or bolts 16, is abracket 17, as shown. This bracket carries at one end thereof spacedknuckles 18, to fit between spaced knuckles 19, formed upon an enlargedhead 20, which in turn is formed u on a horizontally swinging arm 21.

1e knuckles 18 and 19 are pivotally connected. by a pintle 22. Asclearly shown in Fig. 3, the bracket 17 is suitably spaced from the endof the carriage 14, which 15 adjaocnt the swinging arm .21. It. is thusseen that the arm 21 is only capable of being swung through an are 0 acircle of substantially 45, the same engaging in its inner position theend of the carriage 14 and in its outer position the end of the bracket17. Means are provided to detachably lock the swinging arm 21 in itsouter and inner position. Such means comprises a double actin pawl 28,provided at its opposite ends with spending teeth 24. This double actingpawl operates within a transverse opening 5, formed through enlargedhead 20. Aaclearly shown in Fig. 8, the double acting posts 12, asshown. Each lower itln iii)

pawl 23 is disposed between spaced aper-v turcd ears or knuckles 26carried bya. supplemental plate 27, said double acting pawl alsooperating through a slot 28 ormed througi the supplemental plate, asshown. A pin 29 passes through the apertured ears or muckles 26, andserves to pivotally suport the double acting pawl. The ears or knuckles26 extend into the opening 25, as shown. The supplemental plate 27 isdetachably and rigidly connected with the enlarged head by means ofscrews or the like. A curved leaf spring 31, is disposed above the head20 and connected therewith as shown at 32, to extend downwardly andengage the opposite ends of the double acting pawl, to normally retainthe same in a horizontal position. It is thus seen that when the arm 21is swung to its outer )osition, the outer dc )cnding tooth 24 willengage with a tixe catch, finger or lug 83, formed upon or connectedwith the bracket 17, thus serving to lock the arm 21 in the outerposition, as more clearly shown in Fig. 6. When the arm 21.is swung toits inner position. as more clearly shown in Fig. 3, the inner dependingtooth 24 will engage with a fixed or stationary catch, finger or lug 34,connected with one end of the carriage 14, to lock the arm in the innerposition. t is obvious that the arm 21 may be readily released whenlocked in either its outer or inner position, by proper mani ulation' ofthe double acting pawl 24. Eac arm 21 is provided at its outer end witha head 85, carrying spaced upper and lower extensions or bolts 36 and37, preferably disposedin the same vertical plane. The bolt 36 isprovidcd with an enlarged head 38, while the bolt 37 preferably has nohead.-

The numeral 89 designates detachable means for connecting a mail be ormail bags with the arm 21. Such dctac table connecting means comprises apair of swinging members or arms 40, pivotally connected at their upperends as shown at 41. These arms 40 are curved longitudinally outwardlyfor providing a large space therebetween. Formed upon the upper ends ofthe curved arms 40 are co-acting laws 42 having openings 43 and 44former therethrough, to receive respectively the bolts 86 and 87. "Thejaws 42 are provided it on their inner engaging faces with inter ittingtongues 45, as shown. livotally connected with the lower portions ofthe' curved arms 40,'are inwardly extending arms 4Gand47,'as shown at '4The arms 46 and 47 are pivotally connected at their inner ends, as shownat 49. The arm 40 is provided at its innerendwith a cylindrical head 50,fittin within a curved extension 51 of the'arm 4 ,"said arm 47'beingprovided with a head 52, the bolt 49 passing through the heads 50and'52. When the arms 46 and 47 are swung upwardly their inner pivotpoint 49 is disposed in a horizontal lane slightly above the pivotpoints 48, the free end of the curved extension ,51 engaging with thearm 46 adjacent the head 49, to positively limit the further upwardmovement of the arms 46 and 47.

The numeral 53 designates a shield which is rigidly mounted upon the arm47, and extends upwardly to cover and protect the heads 50 and 52, for aurpose to be hereinafter more fully descri ed.

Connected with the curved arms 40 below the pivot points 48 is aretractile coil spring 54, as shown at 55. It is thus seen that when thearms 46 and 47 are moved to their upper position, they together with thespring will securely lock the arms 40 in their outermost position. Anyincreased inward pull upon the lower ends of the arms 40 serves to moresecurely hold the arms 46 and 47 in their upper-most position, whichwill in turn more securely lock said arms 40, in their outer position.

The arms 40 are provided at their extreme lower ends with rin s or.cyes56, for receiving a chain 57 or the like, which carries a book 58,having connection with a mail bag 59. Although I have shown only onemail bag connected with the chain 57 it is obvious that two or more mailbags may be just as easily connected therewith.

In each apparatus the catching means comprises a ork 60, having anott-set portion 01 at one end thereof, which carries an enlarged head62. This head (32 is pivotally mounted upon a carriage 03, by a bolt(34, to swing in a vertical lane. The head 62 is provided with curveslots (35, for receiving clamping or locking bolts 66, which areconnected with the carria e 63. It is thus seen that the fork may isvertically adjusted to the desired an is and securely locked in suchdesired angu ar position by proper manipulation of the bolts (it). Thecarriage (33 includes a sleeve 07, carrying clamping bolt 08. In the carapparatus, the sleeve 07 is mounted upon a stub-shaft (it) which isrigidly mounted upon the car. it is thus seen that the fork 60 may beswun in a horizontal plane into and out of (he car door openin as thesleeve (37 is free to turn upon t e stub-shaft (it), the same being suported by a fixed ring or collar 70. The sleeve 67 carries a dependingarm 71, adapted to engage with stops 72 and 723. When the fork is swungto its outer position, the de iending arm 71 will engage the stop 72 antin its inner position with stop 73, which stop 73may be in the form of ubolt. In the station a paratus, the rotatable sleeve 7 and the fixedring are mounted upon the post 12. All other parts of the constructionremain the same.

The operation of delivering the mail bag from the car delivery means tothe station lib hing means, is as follows:--\Vhen the 7 included in thestation apparatus into the opening between the arms of the trainapparatus, such forlti0 engage the shield 53, whereby the arms d 47 willbe swung downwardlv. The re mail. bag attaching means together with theail bag is of course caught upon the fork Prior to the abov described.operation, the carriage 14 and associated nents v rre arranged at theforward ends ods 10, with respect to the .vel of the car; It is obvioiisr we fork 60 engages the shield 53, will be free to move longitudi car,whereby the delivery wit be effected with the injnries to the same andapparatus. In the event that 1 be moved longitudinally for length of theaide rods 10, the same will engage the shoe absorbing 1 cans i3 and bestopped thereby.

c5 It i t iisatching means from the stag means, the carriage 14 and :sare arranged at the near g e rods with respect to the non at travel ofthe car. It-is thus seen that when the fork 60 of the car catching meansengages with the shield 53, the ii and associated elements will be freeto be moved longitudinally inthe direcof the apparatus. The fork may nowbe swung inwardly through the car door opening, if desired.

It is to be understood that the form of my to be taken asa preferredexample of the same, and that certain changes in the shape, size andarrangement of parts ma. be resorted to without departing from t espirit of the invention or thoscope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus fully dose my invention, I nsim:- I p In apparatus of thecharacter described,

rec direction to the direction ration of delivering the hall tion oftravel of the car, during the 'disen-' invention, herewith shown anddescribed, is

plane and provided with a transverse opening, a double acting pawlpivotally mounted engaged by the double act-ing pawl and connected withthe carriage upon opposite sides of the arm, means 'to detachablyconnect a mail bag with the cm, and means to operate the detachableconnecting means.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a support, an arm pivotallyconne: *1 therewith to swing in a substantially V. orizontal plane andprovided with a transverse opening adjacent the support, a double actingpawl pivotally connected with the arm and operating within thetransverse" opening, stationary catches connected with the support upon0 posite sides of the arm to be engaged by t 1e double oting pawl, aspring to normally hold the double acting pawl in its horizontalposition, means detachably connecting a mail bag with thearm and meansto operate the mailbag connecting means, 4. In apparatus of thecharacter described, an arm pivotally connected therewith to ,swing in asubstantially horizontal pl? and provided with a transverse openinadjacent the support, a supplemental plate pawl mountedbetween thespaced apertured ears, :1 pin passing through the spaced apertured earsand the double acting pawl, a lea i. spring connected with the arm andextend ing downwardly at its opposite ends to engage the opposite endsof the double acting pawl, stationa catches connected with the supportand 'dlSPOSBd upon opposite sides of the arm to be engaged by the doubleacting pawl, means for detachably connecting a mailbag with the arm, andmeans for operating the mail ba connectingmeans.

5. In apparatus of t e character described, a plurality of substantiallyhorizontally arranged spaced guide rods, a carriage mounted'to movelongitudinally of the guide rods and provided with apertured ears forreceiving the same, an arm pivotally connected with the carriage toswing in a substantially horizontal plane with relation thereto, meansto lock the arm in its inner and outer positions with relation to thecar ria means for detachably connecting mail bag with the arm, and meanstoopei the mail bag connecting means.

In apparatus of the character scribed, a suitably supp arm, a l allyextending element c a. pair of non-crossing 1 jaws adaptedto with toswing in a substantially horizontal within the transverse opening,catches to be carrying spaced apertured ears extending lnto thetransverse opening, a double acting .7. In apparatus of the characterdescribed, a suitably su ported arm, a securing element connectetherewith, pivotally connected arms having jaws rigidly connectedtherewith and disposed upon the same side of the pivot point with thearms carrying them, and adapted to engage the securing elements, a pairof pivoted arms pivotally connected with the lower portions of the firstnamed pivoted arms, means to engage the pair of pivoted arms to swingthe same in one direction, and mail bag attaching means connectedwiththe first named .pivoted arms.

8. 'In apparatus of the character described, a suitably supported arm, asecuring element connected therewith, pivoted arms, jaws connected withthe pivoted arms and adapted to engage with the securing element,inwardly extending arms pivotally connected at their inner ends andconnected with the first named arms at their outer ends, means to limitthe upward movement of the inwardly extending arms, means to more theinwardly extending arms in one direction, and mail bag attaching meansconnected with the first named arms at points below the pivotalconnection of the same with the inwardly extending arms.

9. In apparatus of the character described, a suitably supported arm, asecuring element connected therewith, pivoted outwardly curved arms,jaws'connected with the pivoted outwardly curved arms and adapted toengage the securing element, inwardly extending arms connected with thecurved arms near the lower ends thereof and pivotally connected witheach other at their inner ends, a' spring connected with the curved armsbelow the point of pivotal connection between the curved arms and theinwardly extending arms to draw the curved arms inwardly,the mail baattachin means connected with the curved arms be 0w the connection ;thatthe same have with the spring, and means to move the inwardly extendingarms in one direction.

10. In apparatus of the character de scribed, a suitably supported arm,a plurality of laterally extending securing elements connected,therewith and disposed in spaced relation in a substantially verticalplane, a pair of pivoted clamping jaws having openings formed therein toreceive the laterally extending securing elements, arms connected withthe clamping jaws, means to normally retain the arms in their outerpositions, means to operate the first named means, and mail bagattaching means connected with said arms.

11. In apparatus of the character described, a suitably supported arm,a. device detachably connected therewith and having an opening formedtherethrough, mail bag attaching means connected with the device, acatching fork to enter the opening of the device and operate partsthereof, a support with which the catching fork is pivotally connectedto swing in a substantially vertical plane, and means to clamp the forkin adjustment at different vertical angular po" sitions.

12. In apparatus of the character described, a suitably supported arm, adevice detachably connected therewith and having an opening formedtherethrough, mail bag attaching means connected with the device, acatchin fork to enter the opening of the devicean operate parts thereof,a horizontally swinging support, means pivotally connecting the catchingfork with the horizontally swinging support so that said fork may beswung in a vertical plane, means to lock the fork in adjustmentatdifferent vertical angular positions, and means ,to lock thehorizontally swinging support in adjustment at different horizontalpositions.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY KERSHAW.

Witnesses CHARLES C. BAXERLE, CHARLES R. Coon.

